Determine Use of Alternative Retroreflective Pavement Markers (RPMs) on Highways with Centerline Rumble Strips and Winter Weather Pavement Marking Improvements

The use of snowplows in northern Texas frequently results in the loss of retroreflective pavement markers (RPMs). The loss of RPMs is not only costly but also creates unsafe driving conditions during inclement weather. Pavement sections in these districts often use a centerline rumble strip for safety. Traditionally, these rumble strips have precluded the use of metal-encased RPMs (i.e., snowplowable RPMs). This project is focused on determining the efficacy of inserting RPMs into the trough regions of the rumble strips. The report explores use of existing commercially available RPMs as well as RPM design adjustments to accommodate retroreflection requirements while preventing loss of RPMs due to snowplows. In addition, the project also explores the concept of innovative flexible memory markers as a snowplowable configuration, providing an alternative delineation practice. The results show that embedment of RPMs can be an extremely effective way to reduce losses and damages to RPMs during snowplow operations. Successful implementation of this project results will result in millions of dollars of savings for Departments of Transportation and increased roadway safety.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6995-r2b.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=39562
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=39563
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60459
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Submitted August 2021; published September 2021.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research
  3925 W. Braker Lane, 4th Floor
  Austin, TX  United States  78759

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ferron, Raissa Douglas
  • 0000-0001-9301-4820
  • Bhasin, Amit
  • 0000-0001-8076-7719
  • Rung, Michael
  • Al Amin, Md
  • Fowler, David
  • Turkar, Vivek
• Publication Date: 2021-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 151p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Center lines; Reflectorized road markings; Rumble strips; Snowplows
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01784716
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-21/0-6995-R2B, 0-6995-2B
• Contract Numbers: 0-6995
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 14 2021 5:18PM